Catching up with Tiffany Lopinsky of Boston Foodies

We had the pleasure of meeting Tiffany a few years ago, when she had just started documenting her food journey in Boston on her Instagram account @bostonfoodies. It seems that every night she is dining at a new restaurant and it’s no wonder she has cultivated quite a devoted following. The restaurant scene in Boston has really exploded in the last few years, and it’s helpful to have people like Tiffany navigate what’s worth trying.

We had the chance to catch up with Tiffany, and chat about her blog, and of course her favorite restaurant, dish, and all our burning food-related questions…

Hi Tiffany! Tell us a little bit about yourself. Are you from the Boston-area? If not, what brought you to Boston?

Yes! I’m originally from Stoneham, a suburb just north of Boston, and I went to college in Cambridge, so I’ve been in the area for a while now! I’ll probably never leave, despite many people telling me I could use a change and should consider moving to another city.

You started your blog in 2014. Have you always loved food and dining out? What inspired you to start a blog?

Yes, I’ve always loved dining out and taking pictures of my meals, and that’s what inspired me to start @bostonfoodies. I also liked the idea of using Instagram as a way to discover restaurants in the area, and I hadn’t seen a really active Boston-area food account, so I decided to start one.

It’s funny because my friend, Laura, always likes to joke that it was her idea. I had always been posting food photos on my personal Instagram account, and she had told me to start my own food focused Instagram account (that’s her story at least!). I honestly don’t remember that, but Laura is okay because I bring her out to dinner with me all the time!

Has anything surprised you since starting Boston Foodies?

I’ve been surprised and grateful for all of the opportunities that Boston Foodies has provided me. I’ve been able to meet some incredible chefs in Boston and dine at so many great restaurants. As I’ve been doing this for years now, my appreciation for food as a form of art has grown immensely, and I’ve loved seeing the food and drink scene in Boston flourish in the past few years.

You eat at so many restaurants! We’d love to know a few food-related things:

Favorite dish in Boston?

It’s too hard to pick just one! A few that come to mind are the Brussels sprouts at Brassica, the smoked whitefish pizza on an everything bagel crust at Waypoint, and the cheese plate at L’Espalier.

I also recommend that everyone go to either the Sunday City Brunch or the Saturday Chocolate Bar at Cafe Fleuri at the Langham Hotel. It’s a really special experience and a sight to be seen.

Are there any foods you don’t like?

No, I eat everything! I’m lucky I don’t have any food allergies or sensitivities either.

Which restaurant are you hoping to try next?

So many! I always have a running list of places I am trying to make it to. I have been wanting to check out Burro Bar in Brookline, Moody’s in Waltham, and Chef Matthew Gaudet’s new place in Cambridge, Freeport Kitchen and Cocktails.

Sweet or savory?

Sweet! I feel like I should say savory, but I have a huge sweet tooth.

And non-food related things:

Is running Boston Foodies your full-time job? If not, how else do you spend your days?

I have a full time job doing business strategy and analytics for an advertising agency in Downtown Crossing, Arnold Worldwide. It’s an awesome place to work. Boston Foodies is a fun hobby for me outside of work!

If you had a free day in Boston with nothing to do, how would you spend it?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I would eat! Breakfast at Sofra in Cambridge, lunch at Little Donkey in Central Square, and dinner at Banyan in the South End.

Any fun summer plans?

I am planning on going to Vancouver at the end of the Summer, and hopefully I will be making a few trips to the Cape and the Vineyard here and there. I am also hoping to make it to the Berkshires at some point.

With all of the amazing things that you eat, how do you stay in shape?! What’s your secret?

If I’m not going out to eat at a restaurant or going to an event, I try to eat less and eat relatively healthily. That way, when I go out, I don’t feel the need to hold back, and I can always have a great experience at a restaurant. I mean, if I’m going to Little Donkey, I am going to get the cookie dough for dessert, and if I’m going to Sorellina, I am getting the Lobster Gnocchi.

There is this saying — “do you eat to live or live to eat?” I’m definitely on the live to eat side. Food makes me happy.

I’ll also say that I really don’t enjoy exercising or going to the gym. I have a lot of respect for runners and people who are dedicated to working out regularly, but for me, I just really don’t like it despite giving it a try many times. Still, I try to be active in small or fun ways. I try to walk wherever I can, and I usually play tennis a few times a week.

What’s next for Boston Foodies?

I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing! I love and am hugely appreciative for all of the opportunities that Boston Foodies has brought me — trying incredible restaurants, meeting chefs who are super passionate about what they do, and working with awesome brands. I’m excited to continue to do that.

What are your favorite local blogs or Instagram accounts to follow?

There are so many that I love! For food, my favorite is Brian Samuels from @myfoodthoughts. If you don’t know him, he’s an incredibly talented food photographer based in the Boston area, and I love his work.

I also love Regan from @venturetravelist, Jean Wang from @jeanwang, and Brayan Mesa from @brayanmesa. All of them have beautiful photos and their enthusiasm for what they do is contagious.

Food photography can be difficult, especially with so much dark lighting! Do you have any tips for any aspiring food photographers? Any tricks you have?

My main tip would be to visit restaurants during the day, because real daytime light is always better than artificial light! Even when I go out to dinner, I try to go on the earlier side so that I can make sure to get some good pictures throughout the meal. If it’s dark, a friend’s iPhone flashlight can come in handy. I know some food bloggers who use an extra pocket light, and I’ve tried a few, but I haven’t found one yet that I really like.

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Thanks so much, Tiffany! We can’t wait to try some of your favorite restaurants and dishes.